Sheet receiving and drying machine.



No. 636,826. Patented Nov. l4, I899.

R. MIEHLE. SHEET RECEIVING AND DRYING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 6, 1.899.)

' s Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

m: Noam: rztzns co PNOTO-LITHQ. wasumcrrom u. c.

No. 636,826. Patented Nov. l4, I899. R. MIEI'ILE.

SHEET RECEIVING AND DRYING MACHINE.

(ApplieatIon filed Mar. 8. 1899.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

no: NORRIS mans co. Pumouwo WASHINGTON, B. c

No. 636,826. Patented Nov. I4, I899. B. MIEHLE. SHEET RECEIVIN 6 AND DRYING MACHINE.

(Application filed mm. a, 1899.)

5 SheatsSheet 3.

(No Model.)

m: NORRIS PEYERS 00.. PNOYauTHQ, WASHINGTON. D. c.

N0. 636,826. Patented Nov. I4, 1899.

R. MlEHLE.

SHEET RECEIVING AND DRYING MACHINE.

{Application filed Mar. 6, 1899.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

THE nonms PETERS co momuf'uo" wAsmNoToN, 1:. c4

No. 636,826. Patented Nov. I4, I899.

n. MIEHLE. SHEET RECEIVING AND DRYING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 6, 1899.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

I l I I l I I l l l I l l I I I I l l I I l I I I 1 I I I I I I TNE uonms PETERS 00., PNOYO-LITNO.. WASHINGTON n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT MIEHLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SHEET RECEIVING AND DRYING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 636,826, dated November 14, 1899.

I Application filed March 6, 1899. Serial No. 707,930. (No modelu To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT MIEHLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Iniprovements in Sheet Receiving and Drying Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to machines for receiving printed sheets from printing-presses, and, in fact, any other character of sheet which requires to be stacked in a pile but must first be more or less dried before they are allowed to come together; and my invention has for its primary object to receive the sheets successively on separate receivers or supports and to move such receivers in a continuous course or orbit, whereby they will successively present themselves to the sheetdelivery mechanism for receiving a sheet and then move away to permit the next sheet to fall upon the next receiver, thus affording the first sheet ample opportunity to dry While passing through the orbit or traveling the course back again to the sheet-delivery mechanism.

Another object of my invention is to shift the receivers across from one series to the other without loss of time in the movement of the shifting mechanism, whereby the movement of the receivers will be practically continuous.

A further object of my invention is to proj vide an apparatus of the character described which shall be of compact and practicable construction and Will operate in perfect harmony with the sheet-delivery mechanism, a;

In the said drawings, Figure 1 is a side ele Vation of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, partly broken away down the center. Fig. 3 is an end viewlooking from the left in Fig. 1, also broken away down the center. Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of one of the clutches hereinafter described. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the cam for raising the receivers. Fig. 6 is an end view similar to Fig. 3, but looking from the opposite end. Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 7 7, Fig. 2, allbut the two top receivers being shown in side elevation. Fig. 8 is a modification; and Fig. 9 is a detail view, in vertical section, looking toward the edges of one tier or series of the trays, showing a modificatio'n whereby the trays may be evened up or alined.

1 2 represent shallow sheet-receivers arranged one above another in two vertical series side by side and being removably supported upon ledges or shelves 3 4 5 6, which are given an intermittent movement in op posite directions to carry one series of receivers down and the other up under the tapes 7 of any suitable sheet-delivery mechanism, which deposit the sheet in the uppermost tray of the series 1, which is then shiftedacross into the opposite series and becomes the uppermost tray of the series 2,-while the lowermost tray of the series 2 is shifted across to the opposite series and becomes the lowermost tray of the series 1 by mechanism which I will hereinafter describe.

The receivers 1 2 are preferably in the form of rectangular shallow pans or trays, which may be conveniently constructed of sheet metal, with a stout marginal frame 1 extending along the two sides and one end to .give strength and rigidity, the other end being preferably left open, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. These receivers, as above mentioned, are removably supported upon the ledges or shelves 3 L 5 6, each of which preferably consists of an angle-iron arranged longitudinally at opposite sides of and projecting under the receivers. The ledges 3 are secured at 0pposite ends to a pair of vertically-arranged endless belts or sprocket-chains 8, (see Fig.- 6,) which pass over sprocket-wheels 9 at their upper ends and similar sprocket-wheels 10 at thei r lower ends, thus forming an endless vertically-traveling carrier. Arranged diametrieally opposite each of the sprocket-chains 8 is a similar sprocket chain or belt 11, to which the ends of the ledges 4 are secured in the manner already described with reference to the ledges 3, and the upper end of each of the chains 11 passes over a sprocket-wheel 12 and under a similar sprocket 13. Thus it will be seen that when the chains or belts 8 11 are caused to travel the trays or receivers 1, supported thereon, will rise or fall, according to the direction of movement, and will be supported and maintained by the ledges 3 4 until the latter are about to'pass around the sprocketwheels. In order that the belts or chains 8 11 may be held against side deflec tion, and thus avoid the possibility of the ledges 3 4 slipping out from under the trays or receivers, a guide 14 is interposed behind each of such chains 8 11 and so arranged that the fold of the chain adjacent to the receivers will bear thereagainst. The two sprocketwheels 9 are supported upon a horizontal shaft 15, arranged at the upper side of the machine, while the sprockets 10 are supported upon and secured to a horizontal shaft 16, located at the lower side of the machine. The sprockets 12 are supported upon horizontal shaft 17, arranged opposite and parallel with the shaft 15, and the sprockets 13 are secured to a shaft 18, arranged opposite and parallel with the shaft 16. Each end of the shaft 15 is journaled in a bracket 19, having a slot through which passes a set-screw 20, whereby the bracket is secured to the inner side of one of the main side frames 21. The upper end of each of these brackets is provided with an overhanging lip 22, down wardly through which projects an adjusting-screw 23, which impinges against the upper edge of the side frame 21 and affords means for the vertical adjustment of the bracket 19 and the consequent tightening of the chains 8. The shaft 17 on the opposite side is supported in similar brackets 19*, adjustably secured by set-screws to the opposite side frame 21 and having lips 22 overhanging such side frame and being provided with downwardlyprojecting adjusting-screws 23 for adjusting the brackets 10, as before described with reference to the brackets 19. The lower shafts 16 18 are journaled in brackets 24 at each end, which are secured to the side frames 21 21, respectively. The brackets 24 are also each provided with an upwardly-projecting arm 25, to each of which the lower end of one of the guides 14 is secured, while the upper end of each guide is supported by a bracket 26, secured to the inner sides of the side frames 21 21.

Arranged in axial alinement with the lower shafts 16 18 (see Fig. 3) are similar shafts 27 28, supported in brackets 29 30 at each end, which, like the brackets 24, are secured to the inner sides of the side frames 21 21, and arranged over each of the shafts 27 28 and in axial alinement with the shafts 15 17 are shafts 31 32, supported at each end in brackets 33, each of which is secured to the main side frames by bolt 34, passing through a slot in the bracket, whereby the bracket may be vertically adjusted, and each bracket is formed with an overhanging lip 35, downwardly through which projects an ad jnstingserew 36, impinging the upper edge of the side frame to which the bracket is secured, and thereby affording means for the niceadjustment of the upper shafts 31 and the consequent tightening of the sprocket-chains 37, which run over sprocket-wheels 38 39, two on each of the shafts 27 28 31 32. These sprocket-chains 37 are connected together in pairs by the longitudinal ledges or angle-irons 5 6 to form shelves for the support of the series of trays or sheet-receivers 1, this construction of shafts, sprockets, chains, shelves, and trays being in all essential particulars a duplicate of that just described at the other end of the machine and the shelves or ledges at one end of the machine being arranged in the same vertical plane as those at the opposite end of the machine on the same side, so that the trays or receivers may readily slide from one series of shelves or the shelves at one end of the machine across onto the opposite series of shelves at the other end of the machine. The shelves or ledges 5 6 may be held against side deflection and consequent disengagement from the trays by guides 42, supported against theinnersides of the chains 37 by arms 43, formed on the lower one of the brackets 38 39 and on special brackets 44, arranged near their upper ends and secured to the inner sides of the side frames 21 21.

The contiguous ends of the lower shafts 16 28 18 27 are provided with miter-gearconneetion 46, with a transverse shaft 47 journaled in the side frames 21 21 and carrying a ratchet 48 at its outer end. Mounted upon or pivoted concentrically with the shaft 47 is an arm 49, to one side of which is pivoted one end ofa rod 50, whose other end passes through a swiveled eye 51, and sleeved on the rod 50 between the eye 51 and an adjustable collar 52 is a coil spring or cushion 53, which tends to force the arm 49 in one direction. Pivoted to the arm-49 is a pawl 54, which engages with the ratchet 48 when the arm 4!) is oscillated, and thereby imparts rotation to the shafts 16 28 18 27, causing the series of trays on the left as viewed in Fig. 1 or those beneath the delivery 7 to rise and the other series to descend. This movement of the trays or recei vers 1 2 is preferably an intermittent movement in opposite directions, as described, and the required back-aud-forlh motion of the pawl 48 is preferably accomplished by a cam secured to a shaft 55 and acting upon a connecting-rod 56, which is pivoted at one end to the arm 40 and suspended at the other end by a link 57 from the side frame 21. As shown in the drawings, the connecting-rod 56 is composed of two flat bars straddling or being pivoted to opposite sides of the arm 49 and the link 57 and carrying an antifriction-roller58 between IIO their ends adjacent to the'aforesaid cam. This cam preferably consists of two active portions 59 60, arranged diametrically opposite each other, so as to impart a thrust to the rod 56 for every half-re volution of the shaft 55, while the portions of the cam intermediate of the active portions 59 60 are concentric with the shaft for a considerable distance, so as to form a dwell about midway between such active portions and permit the rod 56 to remain at rest. Hence it will be seen that at each revolution of the shaft 55 the trays or receivers on one side will be raised a distance equal to the depth of two trays and on the other side lowered a corresponding distance, the thrust of the cam 59 60 being so proportioned as to accomplish this result. The shaft 55 also has operative connection with the means for simultaneously shifting a tray or receiver from the bottom of the series 2 across to the bottom of the series 1 and a tray or receiver from the top of the receiver 1 across to the top of the series 2. Such mechanism will now be described.

Journaled in the lower part of the side frames 21 21 at one end of the machine is a shaft 61, upon which are mounted a pair of sprocket-wheels 62, over each of which passes one end of a sprocket-chain belt 63. The other ends of these belts 63 pass around idle sprocket-wheels 64, which are mounted on the upper ends of arms 65, whose lower ends are secured to a transverse shaft 66, journaled in the side frames 21 21 at a point below the shafts 27 28, one purpose of the arms 65 being to elevate the sprockets 64 up between the series of shelves or ledges 5 6, so that lugs 67, secured at suitable intervals to the sprocket-chains 63, may engage with the end of the lowermost tray in the series 2 and shift the same from the series 2 across onto the shelves of the series 1. The shaft 66 may be provided on its outer end with an arm 68, having a slot 69, whereby a set screw or bolt 70,

screwed into the sideframe 21, may be u.til-- ized for locking the arm in various positions, and thus tightening the chains 63 when desired. The trays or receivers are shifted from the series 1 to the series 2 by a similar arrangement of chains and sprockets located above the trays only operating in the opposite direction. As shown in Figs. 2 and 7, the sprocket-chains numbered 71, which carry the lugs 72 for engaging and shifting the trays 1, like the lugs 67, run over sprocket-wheels 71 secured to a transverse shaft 73, journaled in the side frames of the machine, the chains 71 being located in planes between those occupied by the vertically moving shelves or ledges 5 6 for supporting the trays. The sprockets 74, which support the other ends of the chain belts 71, are idlers journaled in downwardly-projecting arms 75, secured to a transverse shaft 76, journaled in suitable boxes 77 on the upper edges of the side frames 21. 21 at a point above the shafts 15 17, so as to hold the lugs 72 in position to engage the .at the desired adjustment.

trays without interfering with the operation of the vertically-traveling belts and shelves or ledges secured thereto. The shaft 76, like the shaft 66, is provided with means for rotating it, and thereby tightening the chain belts 71, consisting of an arm 78, secured to the shaft 76 and having a slot 79, through which passes a set-bolt 80, whereby the arm may be secured to the frame 21 The sprocketwheels 74 are also rendered vertically adj ustable on their arms 75. lhis may be accomplished by forming such arms each of two parts, the lower portion of which is secured by set-bolt 81 to the shaft 76 and is also attached by bolt-and-slot connection 82 to the other portion of the arm, which latter portion is provided with a lip or flange 83, which overhangs the lower portion and has an adjusting-screw 84 passing through it and impinging against the upper end of the lower portion, so that by the rotation of the screw 84 the portion having the lip 83 and which also carries the sprocket-wheel 74 may be adjusted vertically, thus bringing the lugs 72 of the chains 71 more or less into engagement with the trays or receivers, the lugs 72 being so alined as to engage with the solid side portions 1 of said receivers. The shaft 73 is also vertically adjustable, it being mounted at each end in a vertically-movable bracket 85, secured by set screws or bolts 86'to the ends of the main frame, the latter having flanges 88, through which pass adjusting-screws 89, serving to force the bracket upwardly when the screws 96 are loosened.

On the shaft 55 is loosely journaled a sprocket-wheel or other pulley 90, which may be driven from any suitable source of power, preferably from the printing-press or source driving the printing-press when my machine is to be used in connection with a printingpress, by means of a sprocket chain or belt 91, and keyed to the shaft 55, preferably on each side of the sprocket 90, is a ratchet-wheel 92, provided with but two teeth, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7, arranged diametricallyopposite each other and adapted to be engaged by pawls 93, pivoted to opposed sides of the sprocket 90, the pawls being controlled by springs 93 When the sprocket 90 rotates to the right as viewed in Fig. 1, the pawl 93 will cause the rotation of the shaft 55, and such movement is imparted, by means which I will now describe, to the shaft 73, which transmits its motion to the shaft 61 through the intermediary of a chain belt or other gear connection 94 and a pair of sprockets 95 96, located on the shafts 61 73, respectively, 97 98 being idlers supported in vertically adjustable brackets 99, secured to the side frame of the machine by bolt-and-slot connection 100, and serving for the purpose of keeping the belt 94 taut and preventing backlash. Secured to opposite ends of the shaft 55 are crank-disks 101 102, each having a wrist-pin 103 104, respectively, normally set diametrically opposite each other or on the half, and to these wristpins are pivoted, respectively, the lower ends of two rack-bars 105 106, whose upper ends engage with pinions 107 108, loosely mounted on opposite ends of the shaft 73. The pinion 107 is mounted upon a sleeve 109, upon which is secured or formed one member 110 of a clutch, whose other member is constituted by the sprocket-wheel 96, which drives the belt 94. The face of the member 110 opposed to the sprocket-wheel 96 is provided with a number of inclined teeth or notches 111, and the sprocket is provided with a number of sockets 112, in which slide a corresponding number of dogs 113, controlled by springs 114 and normally held in engagement with the teeth 111. The dogs 1 13 are shown as having hollow ends, in which the springs 114 are inserted, and the springs 114 are held by pins 115, projecting from the inner face of a cap 116, secured to the side of the sprocket 96. Thus it will be seen that when the pinion 107 rotates in one direction the same rotary movement will be imparted to the sprocket 96, which, being secured to the shaft 73, will drive the lower shiftingbelts 63, through the intermediary of the belt :14, as well as the upper shifting-belts 71. This movement of the shifting-belts derived from the rotation of the pinion 107 will continue throughout a half-revolution of the shaft 55 or while the crank-pin 103 is passing from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the diametrically opposite position now occupied by the crank-pin 101 in that figure. As soon as the rack 105 ceases its movement in one direction, however, the rack 102 begins to act upon the shaft 73 and rotates it in the same direction throughout the other half-revolution of the shaft 55. This is accomplished by a clutch mechanism similar to that already described, and shown in detail in Fig. 4, excepting that the sprocket 06 is omitted and in its stead is employed a plain clutch member 117, whose interior is provided with dogs similar to the dogs 113, which engage with the other clutch member 118, similar to the clutch member 110, already described, the clutch member 117 being secured to the shaft 73, like the clutch member 96, so that when the pinion 108 is rotated in one direction the clutch member 117 will partake of such rotation and continue the rotation of the shaft 73 where the rotation under the action of the rack-bar 105 left off, thus enabling the shaft 55 to keep up a continuous rotation of the shaft 73 and as a consequence a steady and uniform movement of the shifting-belts 63 71, while at the same time permitting of the pulley 90 being rotated backwardly in the event it should be desired to run the press backward without, however, reversing the movement of the shifting-belts or of the intermittently-acting mechanism for raising or lowering the sheet-receivers or trays. This is a veryimportaut feature, because it is very often necessary to reverse the movement of the press, and if the apparatus works in unison with the press it is readily seen that the drying and receiving mechanism would be out of time when the press was again started in the forward direction. With the clutchand pawl mechanism, however, just described, for imparting the movement of the pulley to the shaft 55 and thence to the shaft 73, it will be observed that the pulley 90 may rotate backwardly any number ofrevolutions, leaving the drying and receiving mechanism standing in the position it was when the reverse movement of the pulley began; but when the pulley 90 again starts in a forward direction and the dogs or pawls 93 come up with the teeth of the ratchet 92, which is the point where the drying and receiving mechanism ceased to operate, the operation will be taken up where it left off as soon as the sheet feeding downwardly on the tapes or sheet-delivery 7 again arrives at the position it occupied when it started backwardly with the reverse movement of the press.

The sheet-delivery tapes 7, which may be of an ordinary or any suitable sheet-delivery mechanism, pass over guide-idlers 119 and thence downwardly over the series of receivers 1 and around a roller 120, journaled in the side frames of the machine at a point between the upper and lower folds of the belts 71, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1, and slightly above the forward edge of the uppermost receiver, so that as the sheet runs down the tapes 7 its end will strike approximately against the end wall of the uppermost receiver, and as the tapes and receiver move together in the same direction the sheet will gradually work off the tape 7 and deposit itself in the receiver. The tapes 7, if not driven from the printing-press end of the delivery, may derive their movement from a sprocket 121, connected by a chain belt 122 to a sprocket 123, which in turn is secured to and driven by a small sprocket 124, driven by belt 125 from a larger sprocket 126, secured to the shaft 55. The sprocket 121 is mounted upon an extension of the shaft 120, as better shown in Fig. 2, whose outer end is journaled in a bracket 127, secured to the side of the frame, the sprocket 123 being journaled in a suitable bracket 128, also secured to the side of the frame.

In order that it may not be necessary to accurately time the movement of the deliverytape 7 with reference to the operation of the sheet receiving and drying mechanism, I may employ a stop 129 for arresting the movement of the sheet on the tape 7 and holdingit upon the tapes while they continue to move until the uppermost tray 1 is in position to receive it. The said stop may consist of a series of fingers 129, mounted upon a shaft 130, jour naled in the side frames of the machine, projecting down past or between the tapes 7. The stops are held normally in engagement by means of a spring 131, and they are raised and held aloof at the proper time and until the sheet has passed from the tapes 7 by a cam 132, secured to the shaft 55 or any other suitable revolving part of the mechanism.

The parts of the mechanism thus described may be so timed that the sheet on the tapes 7 will reach the stops 129 at least as soon as the uppermost tray 1 is in position to receive it; but the timing is preferably such that the sheet shall arrive at a position against the stops 129 a little before the uppermost tray is in position to receive it, thus insuring the proper deposit of the sheet in the tray, notwithstanding any delay or interruption that the sheet might undergo between the printing-press and its destination over the tray. The timing is also such that the shifting-belts for causing the lateral movement of the trays or receivers will begin to shift one tray at the top and one at the bottom before the upward and downward movements of the trays cease, thus causing the trays on one side to move upwardly andlaterally and those on the other downwardly and laterally simultaneously, the upward and down ward movements at each operation of the ratchet mechanism 48 54 being each substantially equal to one-half the depth of a single tray. The ends of the trays,

if desired, may be beveled or rounded, as shown in Fig. 1, to insure their proper lodgment upon the shelves or ledges.

By means of the continuously-traveling chain belts 63 71, having the lugs 67 72, which are continuously in motion, it will be seen that no time will be lost in the movement of the shifting mechanism in the act of shifting the trays from one series or tier to the other, for it is obvious that the second lug on the said shifting-belts will begin to shift a second tray or receiver across without waiting for the advancing lug to return to the rear side of the trays in the first tier or series, and by means of the crank movement which I have described for imparting rotation to the shaft 73 the aforesaid shifting-belts will be given a fast and slow movement, and the parts may be so timed that the slow part of the movement will occur at about the time the lug engages the tray for shifting it and again at the time when the tray has about completed its movement or reached its destination in the opposite tier, thereby avoiding any shock or crash between the shifting-lugs and the trays at the beginning of the movement and also avoiding the liability of throwing the tray too far at the completion of the movement.

The crank and rack-bar movement which I have described for imparting this fast and slow continuous motion to the shifting mech-.

anism is, however, but an example of many other ways of accomplishing substantially the same object. For instance, as shown in 'Fig. 8, the rack-bars 105 and the cranks 103 104 may be omitted and the motion of the shaft 55 transmitted to the shaft 73 through the intermediary of a train of gears 105 105*, connected to the shaft 55 by sprockets 101 101 and chain lOl the, gears 105 and 105 being eccentric gears properly proportioned and arranged to impart a fast and slow movement to the shaft 73 at the proper intervals. There being three of the shifting-lugs 67 72 on each of the shifting-chains 63 71, it follows that one revolution of the gear 105 must produce sufficient movement of the chain to advance each lug a distance equal to the shifting movement of the tray or receiver. Hence for eachcomplete revolution of the shaft 55, if the double cam 59 be employed instead of a single cam, the shifting-chains will be advanced a sufficient distance to shift two trays across both at top and bottom.

In the modification shown in Fig. 9 I have shown a guide 132", which is inclined from top to bottom and arranged at the outer ends of the trays or sheet-receivers and against which the latter are adapted to impinge and slide in their downward course in the event the shifting-lugs on the shifting-chains should carry the receivers a little beyond their proper alinement. The upper end of this guide 132 is secured to the frame in any suitable manner and is inclined outwardly, while the lower end may be supported upon the shaft 16 and is so arranged as to gradually, push the trays inwardly to the proper position as the latter descend. One or more of these guides 132 may of course be arranged at the outer edges of the series 1 in the same manner, as shown in Fig. 9, only they would having in combination two vertical series of sheet-receivers, means for moving one series upward and the other ddwnward and shifting the receivers from one series to the other, and a sheet-delivery mechanism extending over the uppermost one of the receivers in one of said series for depositing the sheets thereupon as said receiver moves from one series to the other, substantially as set forth.

3. A sheet receiving and drying machine having in combination two vertical series of sheet-receivers, means for moving one series upward and the other downward and shifting the receivers from one series to the other, a sheet-delivery mechanism for delivering the sheets to said receivers and a stop for holding the sheet on the sheet-delivery mechanism while the latter continues to operate, until the receiver is in position to receive it, substantially as set forth.

4. A sheet receiving and drying machine having in combination a plurality of sheetreceivers movable in a continuous course vor orbit, means for shifting one receiver across from one side of the course to the other, means for engaging and shifting another receiver across in the same direction before the first shifting means returns to the starting-point, whereby the movement will be practically continuous, substantially as set forth.

5. A sheet receiving and drying machine having in combination a plurality of sheetreceivers movable in a continuous course or orbit, means for shifting one receiver across from one side of said course or orbit to the other, and means for engaging and shifting another receiver across in the same direction before the first shifting means returns to the start ing-poin t, whereby the movement will be practically continuous, said shifting means traveling at different rates of speed whereby the starting and stopping of the receiver will be gradual, substantially as set forth.

6. A sheet receiving and drying machine having in combination a plurality of sheetreceivers movable in a continuous course or orbit, means for shifting one receiver across from one side of the course to the other, means for engaging and shifting another receiver across in the same direction before the first shifting means returns to the starting-point, whereby the movement will be practically continuous, and a crank movement for imparting motion to said shifting means whereby the latter will be given a fast and slow movement, substantially as set forth.

7. A sheet receiving and drying machine having in combination a plurality of sheetreceivers moving in a continuous course or orbit and an endless belt having means for engagement with said receivers for shifting them across from one side of said course or orbit to the other, substantially as set forth.

8. A sheet receiving and drying machine having in combination two vertical series of sheet-receivers, means for moving one series upward and the other downward and oppositely-travelin g belts arranged at top and bottom of said series respectively and having lugs adapted to engage said receivers for shifting them from one series to the other, substantially as set forth.

9. A sheet receiving and drying machine having in combination two pairs of endless carriers arranged vertically and having longitudinal ledges or shelves, means for driving said carriers intermittently in opposite directions, sheet-receivers adapted to rest between the carriers of each pair upon said ledges, and oppositely continuously traveling belts arranged above and below the receivers on the two pairs of carriers respectively and having means for engaging and shifting said receivers from one pair to the other, substantially as set forth.

10. A sheet receiving and drying machine having in combination a plurality of shiftable sheet-receivers moving in a continuous course or orbit and being shiftable from one side of said orbit to the other, two revolving cranks set on the half with relation to each other, a shaft having two loose pinions connected with said cranks and engaging said pinions respectively, a detachable clutch connection between each pinion and said shaft and means operatively connected with said shaft for shifting said receivers from one side of their orbit or circuit to the other, substantially as set forth.

11. A sheet receiving and drying machine having in combination two vertical series of sheet-receivers moving in acontinuous course or orbit and being shiftable across from one side to the other of said orbit, two revolving cranks set on the half with relation to each other, a shaft having two loose pinions, rackbars connected with said cranks and engaging said pinions, respectively, a detachable clutch connection between each pinion and said shaft, means connected with said shaft for shifting said receivers from one side of their orbit to the other, a second shaft to which said cranks are secured,a loose sprocket on said second shaft, means for driving the last said sprocket and an operative connection between said second shaft and last said sprocket whereby the latter may turn backward without rotating said second shaft but can make only a partial revolution forward without rotating said second shaft, substantially as set forth.

12. A sheet receiving and drying machine having in combination two vertical series of sheet-receivers movingin a continuous course or orbit and being shiftable from one side of said orbit to the other, two cranks set on the half, a shaft having two loose pinions, rackbars connected with said cranks and engaging said pinions respectively, a detachable clutch connection between each pinion and said shaft, means operatively connected with said shaft for shifting said receivers from one side of their course or orbit across to the other, a second shaft to which said cranks are secured, aloose sprocket 011 said second shaft, means for driving the last said sprocket, and a pawl-and-ratchet connection between the last said sprocket and said second shaft, said sprocket having but two teeth set diametrically opposite whereby the sprocket may rotate backwardly without rotating the shaft but cannot make more than a half-revolution forwardly without rotating its -shaft, substantially as set forth.

13. A sheet receiving and drying machine having in combination two pairs of endless belts carrying ledges or shelves, sheet-receivers adapted to be placed upon said shelves, belts having lugs adapted to engage said sheetrcceivers and being located transversely of and between the first said belts at the lower end of one pair and at the upper end of the other pair and means for driving all of said belts, substantially as set forth.

1%. A sheet receiving and drying machine having in combination two pairs of verticallytraveling endless belts provided with ledges or shelves, sheet-receivers adapted 'to rest upon said shelves, a rocker-shaft arranged below and transversely of the axes of the said belts of one pair and a second rocker-shaft arranged above the other said pair of belts and transversely of their axes, arms secured to said rocker-shafts and projecting upwardly and downwardly therefrom respectively between said belts, Wheels jonrnaled in said arms, traveling belts each supported at one end by one of said Wheels, lugs on the last said traveling bolts for engaging said receivers and shifting them laterally and means for driving said vertical belts in pairs in opposite directions and also driving the other said belts in opposite directions, substantially as set forth.

15. A sheet receiving and drying machine having in combination two vertical series of sheet-receivers movable in a continuous course or orbit, the shaft 76, adjustable or jointed arms secured to said shaft, sprockets journaled in said arms, belts provided with lugs running over said sprockets for shifting one series of said receivers in one direction and means for shifting the other series of said receivers in the other direction, substantially as set forth.

16. A sheet receiving and drying machine having in combination two vertical series of sheet-receivers movable in a continuous course or orbit, endless belts having lugs for shifting said receivers from one series to the other, a shaft 73 having operative connection with said belts, two pinions loose on said shaft and each having clutch connection therewith, a rack-bar engaging each of said pinions, the shaft 55 having crank connection with said rack-bars and means for driving said shaft 55 having detachable connection therewith whereby the driving means may rotate in the reverse direction, substantially as set forth.

ROBERT MIEHLE.

Witnesses:

' F. A. HOPKINS,

EDNA B. JOHNSON. 

